Chapter 495: The Envoy

"My lord, the Minister of Rites, Shi Zhengjia of Da Hong, has come again to press us—he says half an hour has already passed."

Outside Anshan Pass, the protocol officer Zhu Zhu Xizhou came to see Xu Jin again, his expression tense and anxious.

"Just tell them the wind is fierce and the night is dark, and the camp is moving out very slowly—ask them to wait a little longer," Xu Jin said.

"My lord, this—"

Zhu Zhu Xizhou frowned, looking uneasy.

But under Xu Jin's gaze, he reluctantly turned back, clearly prepared to be scolded.

Xu Jin sighed inwardly in resignation.

This man isn't sharp enough!

Is he really that eager to go get himself scolded?

"Hey, come back," Xu Jin called out.

"My lord, what else do you require?" Zhu Zhu Xizhou turned around.

"It's freezing out there—sit down, have a drink with me to warm up before you go," Xu Jin said.

It was December, and this was the northern frontier—wind howled, the coldest time of year.

Xu Jin estimated the temperature was at least minus twenty degrees.

Only those accompanying the envoy mission, or those sent to receive it, had cultivation base—otherwise, spending half a day out in the open would have frozen several to death.

Hearing the word "drink," Zhu Zhu Xizhou hesitated. "My lord, the Minister of Rites of Da Hong is still waiting for my reply."

"He tells you to reply, so you reply?

He doesn't pay your salary!" Xu Jin slowly warmed a pot of wine, poured a bowl, and handed it to Zhu Zhu Xizhou, who finally realized and muttered, "My lord, we've been left waiting here all day—if they grow impatient and leave, what then?"

"If they fail to receive the Chen envoy mission, who do you think will be the one truly desperate?"

This matter was already confirmed by imperial edict between the State Preceptor and the Emperor of Da Hong," Xu Jin sneered.

Zhu Zhu Xizhou paused, as if beginning to understand. "You mean… stall them?"

"Exactly. They've left us waiting a full day—so we'll leave them waiting a full night. Not a moment more."

"But my lord, what if they press us hard?

The Minister of Rites is tolerable, but the commanding general Li Zhi, who's with them, looks ready to devour us alive," Zhu Zhu Xizhou said.

"Here, let me teach you a secret trick! Memorize this phrase: 'We're already doing it, we're already moving, it'll be ready soon, they're almost ready.'

Just keep repeating that, in rotation!"

You're the envoy of Chen—dare they lay a finger on you, even if they had ten lives?" Xu Jin chuckled.

Zhu Zhu Xizhou chewed over the words, then gave a bitter smile. "My lord, this phrase is truly… shameless!"

"But it should work!"

After a while, Zhu Zhu Xizhou, reeking of alcohol, went off to recite the phrase.

Xu Jin even heard a few angry roars.

Deep night, wind howling.

The Chen envoy mission, full and satisfied, lit torches and retired to their tents; one man who rose to spy on the camp was slashed by Ying Ge with a single sword.

Then came the hard labor for the protocol officer Zhu Zhu Xizhou.

He kept reciting Xu Jin's phrase.

But every time he returned, Xu Jin personally warmed him grilled meat and heated wine.

Only the Da Hong soldiers and officials who came to receive the mission shivered in the midnight cold.

Xu Jin was observing their condition closely.

If they truly dared to turn back,

Xu Jin would play dirty—he'd immediately lead the mission back to the city.

Then the State Preceptor would simply bring the matter straight to the Emperor of Da Hong.

The reception party was dispatched by the Emperor of Da Hong himself—yet the envoy reached their doorstep and was not admitted.

Even if the Emperor of Da Hong didn't publicly punish them, the career of the team leader was finished.

After all, they were the ones who were late.

This matter, once investigated, would be clear.

For a being at the level of the Emperor of Da Hong, all covert power struggles, face-saving, and hidden maneuvering were acceptable.

But one thing was absolute: no delays on matters of state!

Just like court factional struggles—you can fight all you want.

The Emperor even enjoys watching.

But if your fighting causes delays in state affairs, someone must suffer.

Xu Jin had counted on this precisely, which was why he was stalling the Minister of Rites of Da Hong.

Of course, he was also stringing them along with that trick.

This was a sacred rule Xu Jin had learned countless times eating at restaurants in his past life.

Thus, Zhu Zhu Xizhou used Xu Jin's trick to string along Minister of Rites Shi Zhengjia of Da Hong all night.

Constantly giving them hope, constantly dragging them on.

Until dawn broke, and at Xu Jin's command, the elite Xunxing Guards, well-rested after a full night's sleep, swiftly broke camp and assembled.

"We apologize for keeping Minister Shi waiting so long."

Xu Jin and the entire envoy mission finally appeared before Minister Shi Zhengjia of Da Hong.

After waiting all night in the freezing wind, his face pale and blue, Shi Zhengjia erupted the moment he saw them.

"Mr. Xu, why are you mocking me?!"

Beside him, General Li Zhi of Da Hong and the other officers glared furiously at Xu Jin and his men.

That night had been unbearable.

Even with cultivation base, they were nearly frozen stiff.

Yet every time Chen's side replied, it was always "almost ready," "just about to move," "already assembled"—but no one ever showed up!

Upon hearing this, Xu Jin looked at Zhu Zhu Xizhou with feigned surprise. "Mr. Zhu, didn't you say the Da Hong reception party was blocked within Da Hong's borders?"

I thought Da Hong's troops were held up inside Da Hong—surely something enormous had happened!

We even let our soldiers sleep through the night!

Had I known you arrived on time, we'd have broken camp long ago!"

Xu Jin stressed the words "on time."

Behind him, General Li Zhi's eyes blazed with fury—he opened his mouth to speak, but Minister Shi Zhengjia blocked him.

"By the way, I was just about to notify State Preceptor Cheng to consult the Emperor of Da Hong—was there a rebellion inside Da Hong that blocked your path?

Do you need reinforcements to suppress it?

If so, we can help for free!" Xu Jin smiled, flashing a row of white teeth, looking utterly harmless.

But Minister Shi Zhengjia sucked in a sharp breath.

Xu Jin's words were terrifying.

If this reached the Emperor's ears, they were the ones who would suffer.

All the enemy needed to do was insist the reception party was blocked within Da Hong's territory, and imply it was due to rebellion—enough to make the Emperor lose face.

If the Emperor lost face, even if they didn't lose their heads, their careers were over.

After a moment's thought, Minister Shi Zhengjia of Da Hong took a deep breath, suppressed his rage, and forced a stiff smile onto his frostbitten face. "There was a breakdown in communication—this must be due to delayed coordination.

Since the envoy mission is now ready, let us verify identities and depart."

Since the mission is ready, let us verify and register our identities, then depart.

"After you."

On December 6, the Chen envoy mission finally passed through Da Hong's Anshan Pass, escorted by six Da Hong starships, flying straight toward Da Hong's capital, Changle City.

Da Hong's territory was one-third larger than Chen's.

Anshan Pass was roughly thirteen thousand li from Changle City; the starships maintained steady speed and flew continuously for two days before landing outside the capital.

Originally, starships could fly directly into the capital.

But Da Hong's Ministry of Rites required foreign starships to land outside the city.

Foreign envoys must enter on foot.

Guests follow the host's customs—Xu Jin accepted this without protest.

Though the rules were theirs to set, once set, they were to be accepted.

Quickly, the state gifts carried aboard the starships were loaded onto carts—five hundred carts in total.

Then the Chen envoy mission entered through the North Gate, marched halfway across the city as Da Hong's Ministry of Rites required, and lodged at the Sifang Pavilion.

Afterwards, the chief envoy Xu Jin would submit the imperial letter to Da Hong's Ministry of Rites, which would then forward it to the Emperor of Da Hong to set a date for the audience.

The basic procedure was this.

Though tedious, this was diplomacy—Xu Jin accepted their arrangements.

Besides, it didn't interfere with his cultivation.

In Xu Jin's arms, a potted azalea bloomed vivid red, brilliant as blood.

For the past few days, except when he was forging Yunlou, Xu Jin held the azalea even while sleeping, to sense its life rhythm.

He hoped to enter the intermediate stage of the Seven Kill Sword Heart.

The city entry arrangements proceeded smoothly and orderly.

Suddenly, Li Zhi, Marquis of Hong Army, and Lei Qi, Marquis of Chen Army, began to argue.

"No, this is absolutely unacceptable!" "If you insist, and something goes wrong later, you bear full responsibility!"

"Fine, we'll bear it!"

"But marching with flags furled? Absolutely not!" Lei Qi roared.

"What's going on?" Xu Jin naturally went over to investigate.

"My lord, they demand we lower our flags upon entering the city and display no banners bearing any connection to Chen Guo," Lei Qi exclaimed urgently.

"Hmm?"

Xu Jin's gaze burned as he fixed it on Li Zhi, Marquis of Hong Army. "Marquis Li, what is the meaning of this?"

Facing Xu Jin, Li Zhi was unafraid—he stood at the peak of Sixth Realm, Ninth Layer, and naturally had no fear of Xu Jin, a Sixth Realm, Seventh Layer envoy.

But to his surprise, the way Xu Jin looked at him made him feel unable to meet his eyes!

That was strange.

"Master Xu, it's not that we forbid you from raising flags—it's for your own safety! Previously, clashes between Chen Guo and Hong Army claimed many lives. Many of the deceased's families reside in Changle City; just a month ago, half the city was draped in white funeral banners!"

"The people of Changle City now harbor intense resentment toward Chen Guo!"

"If you insist on flying your flags and something happens to you, don't blame us for not warning you!"

"Even if this reaches the Emperor's ears, it will still be your fault for disobeying orders first."

"We've done our best!" Li Zhi shouted loudly.

"My lord, our Chen Guo mission is conducted with solemn dignity—how can we not fly our banners?" Lei Qi grew frantic.

Xu Jin waved his hand to silence Lei Qi, then turned to Li Zhi. "Lowering the flags is impossible."

"As for the rest, I don't care. We are an envoy delegation—your responsibility now is our safety!"

In the next instant, Xu Jin clutched a rhododendron in his arms, leapt onto his warhorse, and roared, "Raise the flags! March into the city!"

With a rustling sound, the Chen Guo envoy's procession unfurled its banners; the foremost Chen Guo war flag loomed fierce and terrifying.

With a rustling sound, the Chen delegation's procession unfurled, the leading Chen war banner especially fierce and menacing.

Yet he was powerless to stop it.

As Xu Jin had said, safety was their responsibility.

Diplomacy is no trivial matter!

They still had to try their best.

The impact of the Chen Guo envoy's entry into the city was greater than Xu Jin had imagined.

What had begun as a random event suddenly drew massive crowds of Hong Army citizens flooding into every alley and street, swiftly blocking the roads completely.

Li Zhi and his men could only struggle to clear a path and plead for calm.

But they could not quell the people's rage.

After walking only a short distance, someone threw the first rotten vegetable—then eggs, stones, and debris rained down from the crowd.

In an instant, the entire delegation became a mess.

Even the Hong Army elite guarding them were caught in the crossfire.

Xu Jin watched this scene—and grew furious.

Who in their right mind would believe this wasn't organized?

Do they really think rotten vegetables and eggs are just lying around to be picked up?

Ordinary folk usually can't even afford to eat eggs—why would they waste them to throw?

In the next instant, Xu Jin leapt into the air, stepping on starlight, racing to the front of the procession, and roared with thunderous force across the entire city: "I, Xu Jin, envoy of Chen Guo, am here! If you have courage, come fight! Hiding behind others to throw eggs—what kind of bravery is that?!"

The Hong Army citizens hurling vegetables and eggs froze momentarily, bewildered.

But after only a heartbeat, as if under new orders, they resumed pelting the delegation with refuse.

Someone was definitely directing them!

As Xu Jin pushed his Mingji Star Pattern to its limit, he roared again: "Are all Hong Army men spineless?! I, Chen Guo's envoy, have challenged you at your doorstep—and not one of you dares to fight?!"

"Hong Army, do you still have any men—"

"Arrogant fool! I, Chen Chen Qixian of Hong Army, have come to answer your challenge!"

With a roar, a streak of starlight shot down from a distant tower, hurtling toward Xu Jin—it was a Sixth Realm, Fifth Layer Hong Army elite.

As he launched, a cloud tower materialized behind him, flames surging—he had unleashed his full strength.

Amid a roar, a streak of starlight shot down from a distant tower, hurtling toward Xu Jin—it was a sixth-rank, fifth-layer elite of Emperor Da Hong.

With a single sweep of his hand, a furious spear shot skyward, swift as lightning.

In a flash of starlight, the golden spear shattered Chen Chen Qixian's cloud tower, pierced his starlight, shattered his protective star armor, and drove straight through his abdomen, pinning him firmly to the seventh floor of his own tower.

With a wave of his hand, a furious spear surged skyward, swift as lightning.

As starlight flickered, the golden furious spear pierced through Chen Chen Qixian's cloud tower, shattered his starlight, shattered his protective star armor, and drove straight through his chest and abdomen, pinning him firmly to his seven-story tower.

With a roar, another Hong Army elite, Sixth Realm, Seventh Layer, leapt forward to attack Xu Jin.

"Good!"

With a casual flick of his hand, another ordinary furious spear shot out—and pinned the Hong Army elite to a nearby tower.

"Are there any real men left in Hong Army? Send more!"

With a casual wave, another ordinary furious spear struck again, pinning the Emperor Da Hong elite to the tower along Linjie.

From both sides of the towers, four Sixth Realm elites leapt out, charging straight for Xu Jin.

Xu Jin didn't even look—they were still furious spears.

This time, four spears.

With a piercing whistle, all four were pinned to the towers lining the street.

All six men—each speared through the abdomen, pinned to the buildings, grievously wounded but not dead.

Yet these men were tough—each remained silent, gritting their teeth against the agony.

As Xu Jin continued his onslaught, the surging crowd finally fell silent.

No one threw vegetables anymore. No one dared throw eggs.

But no one dared challenge him either.

Seeing this, Xu Jin threw his head back and laughed loudly: "Is this all Hong Army has?"

"Bold indeed!"

"I, Nan Gong Zhi of Hong Army, have come to test you!"

From afar, a streak of light rode a sword, floating like a celestial being.

The Hong Army citizens below gasped in awe.

Seventh Realm!

Nan Gong Zhi was Seventh Realm!

The swordlight spiraled gracefully through the sky, then shot upward in a dazzling arc before slashing toward Xu Jin.

"Shhh!"

The blade slashed toward Xu Jin's face.

Watching the blade's approach, Xu Jin merely sneered—no defense, no dodge.

At the moment the blade struck, he casually extended two fingers.

Watching the slashing sword light, Xu Jin merely sneered, making no move to block or dodge.

In an instant, he clamped the flying sword tightly between his fingers, face cold.

The Mingji Star Palace was gone—he was now the master of weapon control. Who dared play with flying swords before him?

Flames erupted, melting the sword into molten iron.

In the next instant, Xu Jin landed and took a single step forward.

Nan Gong Zhi, who had just spat blood from his sword's destruction, suddenly felt his feet crushed under a mountain.

He was yanked violently to the ground.

Starlight surged from the earth, binding Nan Gong Zhi in a spread-eagle position, pinned immovably.

Instantly, the Chen Guo elites watching this all drew sharp breaths, stunned beyond words.

But at that very moment, a cry erupted from behind.

"Someone's been killed!"

"The Chen Guo envoy has killed someone!"

"The Chen Guo thief dares kill our Hong Army citizens in the capital! Fight to the death!"

In an instant, every eye turned toward the rear—roars surged like a tide, fury boiling—yet Xu Jin smiled.

His Mingji Star Pattern was fully activated, sensing everything.

He had been waiting for this moment.

The real mastermind had finally appeared!

In the next instant, a piercing whistle tore through the air—and Xu Jin vanished in a streak of light.

(End of Chapter)

In the next instant, a piercing shriek tore through the air, and Xu Jin vanished in a flash of light!

(End of Chapter)